Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas to all our girls and their families. Hope you are all having a good holiday.

We will be in touch about a Goals session between Christmas and New Year. No Christleton training until Jan 8th, but we will be in touch about our scheduled home game v Crossfield on Sunday Jan 5.

Final training session of 2013

The final training session took place tonight (18th Dec) in the worst conditions we have ever seen. All other sessions were cancelled but 5 hardy u18 girls trained!

No games until Jan. Next normal training at Christleton is Jan 8 but we may go to Goals before then.

Sunday Crewse

This Sunday we make the first ever trip to play Crewe Alexandra girls. The game will kick off at 2pm at the Bentley Sports Ground, next to the Bentley factory in Crewe. Should take just over half an hour from Chester.

Please can everyone meet at 1:30. Please bring drink and warm clothing.

Head towards Nantwich from Chester on A51. Go past Tarporley, and soon after that ice cream place (Snugburys) turn left towards Crewe. Go past Reaseheath college and go to roundabout. Take second left and go up to next roundabout. Go straight on (not heading right towards Crewe centre) and go up to roundabout. Take the straight on option and go over railway. Turn right into Pyms Lane and then go right into Sunny Bank Road and then right into the Bentley Legends Sports Club.

On the Silk Road

We head over to the other side of the County on Sunday to play Macclesfield. The game will kick off at 2pm at Congleton Road, Macclesfield, SK11 7XD.

All lifts are now sorted.  Everyone needs to be there at 1:30. It will take about an hour to get there from Chester. It's easy to find. Go into Macclesfield from the Knutsford side. Before you get into the town centre, turn right at a roundabout heading towards Congleton. Go on to Congleton Road and the ground is on the left as you go out of Macclesfield. Please bring a drink.

Wirral Hawks this Sunday

This Sunday we make the relatively short trip up to Arrowe Park to play Wirral Hawks. Can everyone please aim to be there at 1:30.

Take the M53 to junction 3. Turn left follow the road up to the junction at the end. Turn right following signs to Arrowe Park hospital. Go past hospital and then down to lights. Turn left into Arrow Brook Road. Field is on the left, entrance to car park is a little further on on the left. We have played there once before, a long time ago.

Top stuff.

Well done to all the girls for the excellent game against Frodsham. 0-0 for much of the game, Frodsham took a two goal lead before Kiera met a superb cross from Kenzie and whacked the ball into the net. Waverton then piled on the pressure to get the draw, but despite close efforts from Lauren and Ellie, the goal evaded us.

A great game with excellent performances all round, from Lucie in goal, the defence of Ellie, Lily and Annaliese, through to Laura, Kiera and Lauren, and finally to Kenzie up front.

Player of the match - Kiera

Training this Wed as usual. Wirral Hawks away on Sunday.

Well done girls

Well done to all the Waverton girls who kept battling against Stockport County  on Sunday. 8 v 17 was hardly even, but credit to Stockport for only playing 8 girls on the pitch at any one time.

Training this Wednesday, 7:30-8:30.

Game v Frodsham next Sunday, Nov 4th. Kick off 2pm at Waverton.

Training Wednesday 23 Oct

Training will take place this Wednesday as normal 7:30-8:30. Mike is away. Sian will be taking it. Please give your £2 to Lily.

Game this Sunday is at home to Stockport County. We will update this page with confirmation that the game will be played as soon as we know. Ko 2pm. Girls meet 1:30.

Update

Great session at Goals on Sunday. Excellent performances from Laura and Lily, both who used the astro to show their tricky ball control skills. Laura was brilliant especially having just returned from injury.

The Chester Standard and Chester Leader are running our story this week. Look out for it.

Posters have gone out to try to recruit more players.

We have a home game v Macclesfield this Sunday. KO 2pm at Waverton. Please let Mike know of your availability. Its half term and some are unavailable

Training this week looks to be off as so many girls are tied up with an open evening at Christleton.

Watch this space for updates re training and Sunday's match.

Crewe Alex game off

Sunday's game v Crewe Alexandra has been postponed due a lack of players on our side. The injuries sustained in last weeks game have taken their toll.

There will be a meeting of parents and girls this Sunday at 7:30 in the Ring of Bells Christleton.

First home game today

The weather is excellent for our first home game of the season. We are playing Macclesfield.  Meet at Waverton at 1:30. Help with setting up from parents etc would be appreciated.

Training tonight

Thanks to everyone who responded about training times. It seems most of are not too inconvenienced by the later slot we have been allocated although for Kenzie it's difficult of course and two other girls have expressed concern about impact on getting to bed/sleep.

We are actively trying to get an earlier slot and will keep you updated but training will be 8:30-9:30 tonight. We have a special guest tonight, Liverpool Ladies FC keeper Sian Binks, who will be coaching our female keepers. Lets make her welcome.

Game v Crossfield - Sunday 15 Sept

This Sunday we play Crossfield, from Warrington.

The game will kick off at 2pm but please meet there by 1:30. This is important although this week we hope not to have to deal with an injured goalkeeper before kick off!

Mike is away doing his FA Level 2 qualification so John Riste is in charge. Please bring your own drinks and remove jewellery. Wear shin pads of course.

We will play 442 as last week.

The team is:

Goalkeeper: Lucie
Back 4 : Laura (left back), Ellie R (right back) , Ellie M (centre back) Annaliese (centre back)
Midfield : Kiera and Lily (centre mid) Rebecca and Kenzie (left and right mid)
Up front: Lauren and Courtney.

The game is at Orford Park, on the Jubilee Way pitch. It is fairly easy to find, just off the A49. If you know where Ikea is, you are heading in the right direction.

Directions from Chester are to go M56 to the Warrington junction at Daresbury (J11). Take the road into Warrington and head through the town centre on the A49 Winwick road towards Wigan/Ikea etc. Go under a railway bridge. Go past the Warrington Wolves ground and Tesco on the left (and a great climbing centre in the former church next door on the left) and keep going. You will soon see a big new Decathlon store on the right. Turn right down that road in front of it (Jubilee Way) and the pitch is down at the end at the back of the centre. Col from Crossfield will meet us and show us to our changing room. The postcode is:

Jubilee Way, Orford, Warrington, Cheshire WA2 8HE 

Well done everyone

History made today with the first ever u18s Waverton side kicking off the season. The game at Frodsham was a tough affair. 90 mins of hard football on a big pitch. Our girls tired but had done so well with the first 30 minutes being 0-0 and even stuff and then coming straight back after conceding and holding it at 1-1. They scored just before half time and then got two further goals in the second half to make the final score 4-1.

With Lucie injuring her toe in the warm up and Kiera, Lily and Emma all taking knocks, it was a tough afternoon. The girls who played out of normal position Laura at left back and Annaliese at centre back played really well and Rebecca impressed in the space she had down the left wing. Kenzie, Lauren, Courteny and Ellie all played really well too.

History in the making!

A new era, female youth football at Waverton, begins at Frodsham tomorrow. Waverton's first ever u18 girls team plays its first match.

Our first game in the new Cheshire u18 league is at 2pm at the Saltworks Farm pitches on Ship Street, Frodsham on Sunday.

Players are requested to meet at the ground at 1:20. Please don't be late as we have to have a chat about the game, have a decent warm up ready to kick off at 2.

Remember the game is 45 minutes each way, that is 90 minutes in total.

We have 11 players who have confirmed availability.

Lucie, Ellie, Emma, Kiera, Rebecca, Annaliese, Kenzie, Courtney, Lauren, Laura.

Directions to the Saltworks

Coming into Frodsham from the Helsby side. Go down the main street to the lights (the pub on the left is called the Bears Paw, otherwise known in Frodsham as the Beer's poor). Just after the lights, opposite Morrisons on the right, turn left down Ship Street. Follow this road round and the pitch is down at the end on the left, between Ship Street and the motorway. Its called Saltworks Farm. Postcode is WA6 7NW

We met with our kit supplier today. We have shortlisted 4 kits, 2 Nike, 2 Adidas. We will discuss the girls and agree sizings, so we can order in the week. We are also looking at rain jackets for the girls too.

Training this Wed at Christleton - 8pm

CONFIRMED TIME AT CHRISTLETON - 8PM

This week sees us move to the new 3G pitch at Christleton for our winter training. We hope this will be a better surface than we had at Old Hall last season. Well we know it is, its a top quality surface which should really help us train under floodlights.

The u14, u16 and u18s girls are all training on this pitch on a Wednesday with staggered times. The whole club has age groups there so the full size pitch will be divided into 3 and the club has agreed to put the younger age groups on earlier and end with the older ones.

We are waiting confirmation of the time of our slot for this Wednesday and we will put here on Tues at the latest.

NO METAL STUDS OR METAL BLADES ALLOWED. ONLY PLASTIC OR RUBBER STUDS OR TRAINERS ALLOWED. THIS IS A STRICT RULE.

Training this Sunday

There will be a one hour training session this Sunday morning (1 Sept) starting promptly at 9:30. Meet on the field at Waverton. Bring boots, long socks and a drink. Shin pads are advised.

Our first game is on Sunday 8 September against Frodsham at the Saltworks Ground. KO is 2pm and all girls are to meet there at 1:15. We will be having a team talk then a decent warm up before being ready to go at 2. Further details later.

Pre season update

Emails have gone out to all girls/parents now and thank you to all those who have replied and who have collected the necessary documentation. Can the others who have not please do so when they return from their holidays. We have a meeting with the League on Monday 19 August and so everything should be in place by then.

We start pre season training on Wednesday 21 August and will continue every Wednesday through the season, as last year. The 21 August session will be on the field at 7. Please ensure you bring correct footwear (depends on the hardness of the ground but trainers or astro boots may be better than studs), and water. Please wear socks that are not trainer socks and bring a drink. If you are not fully hydrated then you will feel tired and not be able to perform your best in training.

Everybody needs to be keeping fit during the break. Just running or going to the gym is important to keep up your fitness. We left the season in April pretty fit and that fitness needs to return fully by our first game on 8 September. You could be running 8km during a game and some of those runs will need to be at full speed during the 90 mins.

On this basis, your fitness work pre season needs to be a combination of stamina (endurance/distance running) and speed (strength/ability to accelerate). Our suggestion is therefore:

3 times a week - a 30 minute run but including within that some sprints. Use markers, between lamposts or fences etc, to give yourself a target. Build up the sprints in pyramids - such as 5, 10, 15 seconds and then come down again in reverse 10 and 5. Just build those into your 30 minute run. Start with one pyramid in your run then in your next run do two such pyramids and so on. Remember to warm up before your run and cool down after (just a gentle walk then stretch will be ok). Drink plenty before and also drink afterwards. If you follow this routine between now and the second week of Sept you will be the fittest player on the pitch! Think how good that will feel!

Break until 21 August

Remember no training for the next two Wednesdays. We resume on Wednesday August 21, 7pm at Waverton.

The season fixtures will start on 8 September so just two weeks then to prepare for our first game. It is important now that all players focus on the training sessions as we move towards the big kick off.

We have let everyone know what we need from you in terms of documents both for the League and for  the Club.

We still need additional players to bolster our squad. Please publicise our club as much as you can, you never know who might just come and join us. Everybody is welcome irrespective of ability. Any girls aged 15 on or before 1 September 2013 are eligible for our u18 team.

In September we will move on to the new 3G pitch at Christleton High School for training on Wednesday evenings.

Training this week

Training this week will move to Thursday. Apologies for this, it is a one off. Same time 7-8 on the field.

Please let us know if you can't make it.

We will then have a break until Wednesday 21 August.

We need from everyone a photocopy of proof of age (birth certificate or passport bit showing date of birth) and a recent photo.

Time for a look back. Remember this?

 

Training this Wed

Training this Wednesday will be back to a 7pm start.

Training Wednesday is now 7.30-8:30

Training this Wednesday has gone back to 7:30-8-30. Apologies for any convenience but its a work thing. Not a bad thing given the forecast. Bring lots of water to drink, you'll need it.

Update

Hope everyone enjoyed the presentation night. They come around so quickly it seems only 5 minutes since last year's one. It's been a great season, well done to everyone and thanks to all the parents and supporters who have helped with setting up the pitches and providing lifts etc.

We've sent an email out to everyone who has provided us with an email address. This email is about next season and what the position is regarding options. It's vitally important that parents and girls read that email and respond. We have only a very limited time to make decisions and everybody needs to make it clear what they want to do.

Best of luck to  Kiera, Ellie, Cara and Lily who are taking their FA Level 1 coaching assessments this weekend.

Training will take place this Wednesday on the field. 7-8.

Parents v Girls part 3

The third parents v girls game took place on the field last Thursday. The rain had been pouring down all day but the pitch was fine and the rain didn't dampen down enthusiasm.

The girls team was Emma, Ellie, Lily, Lucie, Annaliese, and Courteny. The parents team was altogether a more polished and classic (i.e. old) side. Scouts turned out to watch, oh sorry it was the 3rd Waverton Brownies. They soon ran back inside the village hall.

Straight from the kick off Emmas dad was up for it, a Harrison v Harrison battle this was going to be and it appeared that there may have been some money on it. Emma's call of "me dad's got a dodgy knee, get him" rang out. Annaliese replied "Which one?" to which Emma made it clear "Left!".  Morley v Morley, Parkinson v Parkinson, Riste v Riste, there were little family battles going on all over the field.

The parents went into a instant lead and then it was trebled. Game over? No the girls fought back with hotshot Courteny blasting past her mum in the parents goal. It remained pretty much even for most of the game. Ellie blasted the ball into the road and then the hedge. Robin completely took out his daughter, a foul of such magnitude that had it been committed in the Wallasey League, there would have been a summons to appear in front of the League Management Committee.

The rain continued but so did the game. End to end to the end. The dark came and the game had to finish. It wasn't clear who won, but the girls claimed the victory. Football, family and the club were the real winners.

See everyone on Wednesday at the Presentation night. Girls meet 7:30 at the Ring of Bells for the meal. Cost to be met by the girls - what you eat and drink you pay for. The presentation will be around 8:45, so any parents coming down for that should arrive around 8:30. If any parents want to stay and eat, let Mike know and we'll see if we can get a parents table.

Open morning success (again)

Another great open morning at Waverton today, with the u16 girls helping to coach the u10 girls who came down. The little ones are brilliant, so keen and so full of energy. We hope to be able to establish an u10s team next season with these girls as the basis.

Thanks to Lola, Phoebe, Isabelle, Charlotte and Imogen, and special thanks to our u16 girls Lucie, Ellie, Annaliese, Lauren, Cara and Lily for getting down to the field early on a Saturday morning and helping out. Credit to the club every one of you.

Photo below and also a couple from our game against Virginia's finest u16 girls side, Valley AFC, courtesy of the USA club.

A special parents v girls game this Thursday on the field at Waverton. 7pm. See you all there.

Update

It may not be the football season, but there is a good deal happening.

Great training session last Wednesday. Excellent atmosphere and spirit.

Nothing happening this weekend but everyone needs to prepare for the game on Tuesday. At training we talked about what everyone needs to do to prepare.

The game will be against Valley AFC who left Virginia this morning for the UK. Everyone needs to be at Vauxhall Motors Sports Club at Ellesmere Port for 7pm. Please do not be late.  The Valley AFC boys team will be playing before us. The game will be played on the 3G astro pitch. No metal studs to be worn (that's the studs in your boots, not your ears).

The girls from Valley AFC have travelled a long way to play and we must respect this by arriving on time and staying around for a short time after the game. Sandwiches and refreshments will be provided for us and the Valley girls.

The squad is: Cara, Ellie, Emma, Lily, Kiera, Rebecca, Lucie, Annaliese, Kenzie, Meg, Lauren, Courteny, Laura, Charlotte (from u14s) and Jodie (from u14s).

Further information on Valley AFC can be found at: www.valleyafc.org

Other dates for the diary:

Saturday 22 June - Open morning - training session for new girls 9:30-11 on the field. Helping out: Ellie, Kiera, Lily, Lucie, Annaliese

Thur 27 June 7pm on the field - parents v girls game

Wed 3 July - Presentation night at the Ring of Bells. Table booked for 7:30.

Open morning/Training/USA game

Open morning - will take place on Saturday 22 June 9:30-11. Ellie, Annaliese and Lily have offered to help out. More helpers very welcome.

USA game - now confirmed Tue 18 June ko 7:30 at Vauxhall Motors Sports Club Ellesmere Port. Team to meet at 7pm. Full Waverton kit. 3G pitch. Astro boots. No studs.

Cara (GK), Meg, Lily, Ellie, Emma, Kiera, Laura, Rebecca, Annaliese, Courteny, Kenzie, Lauren,

Training Wed 12 June on the field at Waverton 7-8

Next open morning - Sat 22 June

After the success of last months open morning, we are holding another one. Sat 22 June 9:30-11 on the field. Help appreciated as it made such a difference last time. The little ones want to come back to play!

Please let Mike know if you can attend.

Game v USA touring team

We've been invited to play an 11 a side friendly game against a USA touring girls team. The game will be take place on 18 June.

Team confirmed to date:

Cara (GK), Meg, Lily, Ellie, Emma, Rebecca, Lauren, Courteny, Annaliese, Laura and Kenzie.

More details to follow.

Training off tonight

No training tonight as a number of girls are unavailable. Make sure you all do some other activity instead!

Open Morning this morning

All systems go for this mornings girls open morning. Players meet 9:20 in Waverton kit.


Girls of any age or ability are every welcome to come and take part in an informal session at 9:30 on the field by the Village Hall. Chester FC Ladies team players and our own AFC Waverton players will be there to help out.

Training on Wednesday 15 May

Blow away those revision blues. Clear your head for an hour. Get down to the field 7-8 for a fun filled training session. You know it makes sense. See you there.

On Saturday, those girls who are coming to help, please meet at 9:15 on the field. We will be all finished def by 11, maybe earlier. We have a few younger girls coming down to meet us, have a coaching session and a little kick about. Should be good. Please let Mike know if you are definitely coming.

Training this Wed

Training will again take place this Wednesday. 7-8 on the field at Waverton.

After half term and the completion of the GCSE exams in mid June our Wednesday training sessions will be suspended and we will train for 11 a side with Chester Ladies until the school holidays.

On Sat 18 May we are holding an open morning to try to recruit new players particularly young ones into Waverton. All girls invited to help out with coaching/talking etc. 9:30-11 on the field.

Training Training

Training tonight as usual at Waverton 7-8.

For those available there will be a joint training session tomorrow (Thursday) 7:45-8:45 at Upton County Officers Club on the AstroTurf.

Training Wednesday

Training is on this Wednesday as normal, on the field at Waverton at 7.

On Tuesday Chester Ladies are playing at the Deva Stadium. Entry for Waverton girls is free.

On Friday 26th, we are also invited to watch free of charge, Liverpool Ladies v Arsenal Ladies in the FA Cup semi final at Anfield ko at 7.  Please let Mike know if interested as we have to block order tickets.

Tragedy, when the morning cries and you don't know why..........

Birkenhead Ladies 1 - AFC Waverton 1

When you go into extra time, we're talking about drama.
But when we reach the penalty shootout, it's a tragedy.

Joseph S. Blatter
FIFA President

The u16s relationship with the Wallasey League came to an end on Saturday in dramatic fashion. The girls went out in the semi final of the Cup on penalties and even that was drama itself involving all 7 girls. This encounter had everything you might see in a season packed into two tense hours. We had: an issue with a registration card which involved a phone call to the league registration secretary, a disputed goal, a disallowed goal, an ear ring issue, parental touchline banter and a goalkeeper with an injured finger who would not give up.

The morning did not get off to the best start despite the intention to all meet at 9:10 for a good warm up.  Poor Lucie was left behind at home due to a mix up and had to be gone back for. We managed a warm up but then it was time for the registration cards to be checked. In five seasons we have only been lined up against the wall once before, and that was at the Delph last season, but this time the girls were asked by the opposing manager to call out their names whilst she checked their cards. We said it last time, but the 'Don't tell him Pike' scene from Dads Army comes to mind. We had cards for all the players and some long departed, but Ellie's was missing. How could that happen? The most likely explanation was it was by Mike's computer left there when filling out last Saturday's scoresheet for the League, but it certainly wasn't in Wallasey. Up steps the League Secretary himself and states that Ellie can't play as he doesn't believe she is registered with the League. Mike made a phone call to the League Registration secretary to obtain Ellie's registration number and after 10 minutes came the details. Just as well as she had been playing 5 minutes at that point.

Waverton lined up in an experimental  2-2-2 formation . The forgotten Lucie was in goal, Meg and departing Emma at the back, Lily and Registered Player E.Riste number 0278 in midfield, and Courteny and Kenzie up front. Annaliese and Rebecca started as subs.

It all went very well really. Birkenhead are a strong team and pile pressure on to the defence and goalkeeper. Their one trick is long throw ins with a player standing on the goalkeeper. Bit like watching Stoke City. During the game they must have had 12 or more such attempts and each time the defence has to protect Lucie, and deal with the threat. And how well they coped with Ellie, Meg, Emma and Lily throwing themselves into headers and clearances and Lucie too did just fine jumping to catch the ball. Rebecca has settled into u16s football so well this season and it was great to see her causing problems for the Birkenhead defence and not put off by strength.

It was a great game to watch. Very strong tacking, end to end and full of commitment. The home side had the ball in the net but it was disallowed as it went straight into the goal from a throw in. Courteny went close on a number of occasions, but it was at the back where Waverton excelled. Emma and Meg, supported by the midfielders of Annaliese, Lily and Ellie were all fantastic and stuck to their shape and tasks superbly.

0-0 at half time and 0-0 at full time. 20 mins extra time to play. It was during the first period that Birkenhead scored. A free kick on their right just outside the box was given for a foul by Ellie. The ball was floated in, over the heads of the wall and the other defenders and into the top corner. One of the home team put Lucie off, but whether or not it was a push was debatable. Unsettling the goalkeeper is a tactic Birkenhead use and as the girls move up the ages it will be more common. It lead to a few arguments on the touchline, which at one point, we started to get a little concerned about.

The girls had been told not to let their heads go down if they conceded and they didn't. Kenzie replaced Rebecca and her speed energised the attack. A great move saw Courteney through on goal and she didn't miss. Absolutely brilliant finish and Waverton were back in it with 6 mins left. Despite a few more set pieces from throw ins, Waverton hung on and then it was penalties. Our first penalty shootout since 2010 when we played in the Vicars Cross tournament.

Lucie was in agony having sustained an injury to a finger on her right hand, but would not duck out of the shoot out. It's unfair to name who scored and who missed as this is a team game but most of our 5 penalties were scored and then we went to sudden death whilst Lucie saved an equal number absolutely brilliantly especially given the pain she was in. Kenzie scored the 6th then Lucie herself scored the 7th. Then we went round again and our first one then was missed and then Birkenhead scored theirs. Well done to them. All over and our girls ran to console the despondent Lucie who was on her knees in the goalmouth. It was like Italia 90. Instead of Gaza being in tears it was Emma. Well actually it was like the ending to most of the tournaments England play in.

The girls showed on Saturday just how much they have improved, how they can cope with pressure and how they have grown to deal with the physical side of the game. When the time came, they didn't let anyone down. Its a well worn cliche but penalties are a lottery and its a cruel way to lose and miss out on a Final place. We were so proud of all 9 girls, you were a credit to Waverton, your families and most importantly to yourselves.

Player of the match for Waverton was registration number 0278 (E.Riste) and for Birkenhead probably the best overall player in the Wallasey League this season, Georgia Fairclough.

Delph Directions

Meet at the Delph at 9:10. Please be there on time so we can prepare.

Take M53 to end following signs for 'All Docks' not Liverpool (DO NOT GO DOWN THE TUNNEL ENTRANCE). Follow link road down to roundabout making sure you get in the right hand lane signedposted 'Docks', as the left one takes you back down to the Tunnel entrance. Turn left at the roundabout following signs to Wallasey (just in front of the big Tate and Lyle tank). This is Mill Lane. Go straight through lights at the Pool Inn pub (on the right) and follow road over the M53/tunnel link road below to Liscard Village centre. Follow the one way road system left then get in the right hand lane to head right at the junction following a sign for New Brighton.






Keep straight on through the shopping area and onto Rake Lane following the New Brighton B5143 signs. Go past the Liscard Chippy. The Delph is behind the houses on the right on this road. Park on the main road on the left just before New Brighton Bowling/Cricket Club and take the path on the right hand side of the road through to the Delph. If you get to the Cemetery, you've gone too far.

Training at Waverton this Wed/Cup Game Sat/special training event on Sun

Training this Wednesday will again take place at Waverton, 7-8. Please bring a drink.

This Saturday we are away to Birkenhead in the Semi Final of the Cup. Win it and we're at Wembley! Well not really but you know what we mean.

The game will be at the Delph on Rake Lane in Wallasey. Its just north of Liscard Village and directions will be on this website on Friday.

Please meet there at 9:10 so we can have a good warm up and get ourselves prepared. This could be our last ever competitive game except for the tournaments, so lets give it everything we have. If we play like we did against against Wirral Hawks on Saturday, we should be in with a real chance.

As mentioned in texts, there is a special training event with Chester Ladies on Sunday 12-1. More about that later.

We've just received our application pack and forms to join the Cheshire u18 League next season. Exciting stuff.

Blood, sweat and years

AFC Waverton 3 - Wirral Hawks 8 

A nice Spring morning (at last) welcomed the 2012/13 League Champions Wirral Hawks to Waverton, for our final League game of the season. Three weeks ago the Queens Field was a mud bath, this week it looked almost like a football pitch again.

With Kiera and Kenzie away enjoying themselves, and Emma's shoulder popping like popcorn in the Cinema, we had 8 not so little now Wavertonesses out on duty. Meg started as sub, and so the 7 lined up in traditional formation:
Lucie in the sticks, a back two of Ellie and Lily, a middle three of Annaliese, Rebecca and Courteny and Captain for the day Caitlin up front.

Lucie was torn between two sets of gloves. Should she go for the nice black LFC pair but which were a bit slippy or should she go for the mens sized ones with more grip? Tough choice. The solution was, in typical Lucie experimental style, - one of each.

Waverton kicked off with the sun behind them and with the sun on their backs it was all good on the Waverton field. Pretty even for the first five and then a great move saw Caitlin free on the left and bang it in the back of the net and wahey, the Waverton girls were ahead.

Wirral Hawks are strong though and a failure to clear he ball properly gave them a goal, but a delightful move involving Annaliese and a lovely flick from Caitlin presented Courteny with a chance to score, and she didn't disappoint.  A second Hawks goal came directly from a corner, but it was pretty even overall. Ellie had a great long range high shot which dipped and only just flew over the crossbar. Meg nearly got her first Waverton goal after one of her surging runs down the right.

Hawks got a goal back just before half time but in trying to save it, Lucie got the ball whacked in her face with her nose taking the full brunt of it. Blood came streaming down her face and she sat down through half time holding a bandage against her nose. Annaliese got ready to go in goal but Lucie being Lucie wasn't going to give in and got up laughing (!) and said she was fit and ready to go.

In the second half the Hawks showed their strength but another Caitlin shot flew into the net. Lily playing in the midfield for part of the second half got through one on one, but tried a left foot shot and scuffed it wide. Lucie made some brilliant saves, and Waverton were unlucky not to score more. A number of corners proved dangerous for the Hawks defence and a few shots flew past the post on the wrong side.

The girls tired near the end, but it was a great game of football and a fitting final home game. Caitlin was voted player of the match but there were so many good performances. Lucie was so brave as we have come to expect, Ellie strong and so fast at the back and caught all those who went past her. Meg is  probably as fact as Ellie, maybe quicker and again she can catch and tackle players who have a couple of yards on her. Rebecca was industrious as ever and Annaliese showed some great touches to set up some attacks and delivered a perfect corner when it was needed. Lily was awesome in defence, knowing just where to be and when to tackle. Courteny worked so hard, deserved her goal and has improved tremendously in her short time with us, a player to watch for the future and a real handful for opponents. Caitlin again showed she knows where the goal is and teamed up really well with Courteny going forward.

And that was it. All the years we have been playing games on the Queen Field and this was the last one for the current team in Wallasey League. A nice ending with a match when the girls gave everything and twice had the lead against the runaway Champions. The football was as warming as the Spring sunshine.

Thanks to the supporters and a special thanks to Robin for stepping in to referee.

Next Saturday we are away, in the Semi Final of the Cup, to Birkenhead at the Delph in Wallasey ko 9:30. If we win, we will be in the final, but our games against Birkenhead have been close over the last two seasons so a tough game awaits. Training takes place this Wednesday at WAVERTON not Old Hall, 7-8.

Last League Game

Our last ever Wallasey League game takes place at Waverton today. Ko 9:30. All girls to meet at 9:10. We welcome the League champions Wirral Hawks down to Waverton.

We have one more competitive game in the Wallasey League, a Cup fixture against Birkenhead, which takes place next Saturday, 13 April at 9:30. If we don't win that game, that will be the end of our involvement with the Wallasey League this season.

Two of today's players Lily and Ellie have been playing for the club since the start of the girls team in 2007, and along with another of todays players, Caitlin, have played in the Wallasey League since 2008. Emma has played all that time in the Wallasey League too but cannot play in today's game.

Help appreciated with setting up. We may also not have a ref!

Games in April

Our final League game of the season will take place next Saturday April 6, at home to Wirral Hawks, ko 9:30. Please let us know of the girls' availability.

The following Saturday we play Birkenhead Ladies away in the Cup. The match will kick off at the Delph at 9:30.

Unless we win the Cup game, this will be our last competitive action of the season until the tournaments. We are talking to other clubs to try to get some 11 a side friendlies sorted. We will continue to train until July as normal as long as there are enough girls still interested. We recognise that some of the girls have important final GSCE exams during the next few weeks.

Happy Easter anyway.

Training on Wednesday at Old Hall/No game this Sat

Training at Old Hall again this Wednesday. Make sure you have your thermals on as its blooming freezing. Robin and Steve are in charge as Mike is working.

No game this Saturday. We await to see if the League will rearrange our final League game which is against Wirral  Hawks at home. We also want to play some end of season friendlies including some 11 a side games.

We are still waiting to hear from the FA Football Foundation about our application for £5000 to establish an u18 side and an u10 side for next season. We hope that we can retain all of our u16 girls to play in an u18 side for next season.

We have 7 girls interested in the Blackpool tournament on Sat June 1. We will seek confirmation and then send an entry in. We are also looking for another tournament but there aren't many around for u16 girls at all.

Enjoy the training and enjoy the Easter weekend.

Training again next Weds, April 3rd 7-8.

Day out at the Deva

Hope everyone enjoyed the trip to the Deva. Shame we couldn't go into the changing rooms (last minute decision by the manager as he was preparing for the game), and the game wasn't the most exciting especially as all the play in both halves seemed to be at the other end. There were times when we said "don't defend like that girls!'.

All in all though a good showing for AFC Waverton girls. Next time we hope the girls won't be so shy at going on to the pitch at half time, although when it came to it, there were a number we couldn't get off!

Thanks to Richard and Mark at the club and to the Ladies players who looked after us and a personal thanks to Assistant Manager Gary Jones for the reminisce of good times at GTFC.

Mini Divas

Our trip to Chester FC takes place tomorrow. Meet at the Deva Stadium, Bumpers Lane at 1:10pm. There will be a tour of the ground etc before the match. Given some worries from some of the girls across all 3 age groups about going on the pitch at half time ('there'll be lads there we know!), we have decided after talking to Chester, not to run the scheduled half time training session/activity.

We will still have a group photo. Own clothes can be worn, but wrap up well, the Deva Stadium is like the Arctic some days. The cold air blows straight down the river.

If anybody really does want to do something like cross bar challenge on the pitch at half time, let Mike know asap.

Some of the Chester Ladies team will be on hand to look after us.

Girls are free. Adults are £5. Oh and the game is against Gloucester City. Thought this was the Conference North!

Confirmed : Meg, Kenzie, Ellie, Lucie, Lily, Rebecca, Annaliese, Courteny, and Caitlin.

Banishing the blues

AFC Waverton 6 - Greenleas 3

With 4 players missing from the Birkenhead game, the u16s were down to the bare 7 for visit of Greenleas. Daytime parties, trips to London, weekend lessons in Anglesey, such is the life of a modern Waverton teenager. At least though Emma had, just like her shoulder, popped back to take up her place in defence.

It was so gloomy, the Waverton floodlights were almost needed as kick off time approached. Strange month March isn't it? Last week, it was so sunny that Lucie thought she was in Ibiza, (but the pitch was frozen at 7:30), and this week it was freezing cold and very wet. In fact it was so cold, Meg's hands had gone blue before kick off.

The soon to be brown, but still yellow at kick off yellow shirts, lined up with stand in Annaliese in goal for the partying Lucie; a back two of Meg and Emma;  a midfield of Lily in the middle and Kenzie and Ellie alongside ; and Courteny up front. The tried and trusted 2-3-1, in operation again. The Christmas tree with Courteny as the fairy, if you like.

Just before kick off the usual procession of jewellery and other things were handed to Mike for safe care. Watches, Ipods, phones, Hob Nobs (?), all the valuable possessions of teenage girls, but not for the next 60 mins.

Kicking towards the cow field, Waverton were in front within minutes, Ellie's shot sneaking in to the corner on almost the first attack. Greenleas tested Annaliese in the sticks but then another attack saw Ellie once again unleash a great shot from further out to double the home side lead. Ellie almost grabbed another when she headed just over from a Lily corner.

Greenleas fought back and just before half time an attack resulted in a green hooped shirted player beating Annaliese. 2-1 and the visitors were back in the hunt.

At half time the girls were told the usual things, keep their shape, watch the last player, keep goalside and have some shots. Courteny was told that her great efforts would pay off and she would score. Greenleas though came out and scored an equaliser, but at half time we had discussed a game plan to counter a possible equaliser and it worked.

In the second half the mud was making the pitch stickier, but Waverton continued to play some great football. Ellie was having a great game, Lily was dominating midfield, Emma and Meg were in control at the back and Kenzie was running and creating chances. The second half though was mainly Courteny's, and her efforts not only in this game but in the previous two, paid off in the space of 10 minutes when she grabbed a hatrick. Just before she got her first, she'd had two left foot shots that had gone wide, but on her third chance she made no mistake, then had a second with a brilliant long range shot. The third was just a tap in once Ellie had done fantastic work down the right to put the ball across the goal line. Courteny has shown in training how she can finish and today it came to fruition in the match.

Lily's corners were excellent and we looked more dangerous from them in this game as they dipped as they reached the box. Annaliese made some important saves, but Greenleas were not for giving up and scored another in the second half when they broke away and outnumbered our defence.

As the game headed towards the whistle, Emma scored a goal from close range, shooting through a group of bodies, to her obvious delight. Meg nearly got her first goal with a similar effort but it was blocked. Just before the final whistle, Annaliese came up for a corner in true heroic keeper style and nearly scored.

All in all, a great game and a great result for Waverton. As the rain came down and the goals were dismantled, the valuable possessions were handed back and 7 now muddy girls trooped off happy. They deserved this moment. Megs hands were no longer blue, and neither was the Waverton girls mood.

Player of the match, Kenzie, and for Greenleas Sophie Harding.

AFC Waverton 6 - Greenleas 3

Excellent performance from the Waverton girls this morning beating Greenleas 6-3 at home. Goals from Courteny (3), Ellie (2) and Emma were decisive. Player of the match was Kenzie but all the 7 girls were outstanding in a great and hard fought game.

Match Report to follow.

Greenleas

This Saturday we are at home to Greenleas. Meet Waverton at 10:35 so we can prepare for an 11ko.

The pitch will be set up as the u14s are on before us, but help taking everything down will be appreciated.

Greenleas on Saturday

Training this week at Old Hall as usual. Can those who have not paid their £10 March subs please do so?

Paid so far:- Lucie/Rebecca/Laura/Courteny/Lily/Kiera

Game this coming Saturday is again at home, when we welcome Greenleas to Waverton. Kick off this week is 11:00 as we will be on after the u14s. Let's play as well as have done against Upton and Birkenhead and see if we can get a bit of the luck in front of goal. We have really tightened up in defence against the better sides over the last few weeks so our overall game should be much better. All we need is some more sharp shooting and key passes to create the simple chances and we'll be flying.

Please let Mike know if available for Saturday, and for the Chester FC visit on Sat 16 March.

No game on Sat 23 by the way.

Well done girls

Well done girls for today's game. Unlucky not to win!

Player of the match - Caitlin, scorers Ellie and Kiera. Well played everyone.

Birkenhead game on Saturday.

Birkenhead visit Waverton on Saturday for the second home game in succession. Ko is 9:30, all girls to meet at 9:05. The game has to ko on time as we have u14s straight on after us., We need to have a talk and good warm up so please be on time. Late arrivals may not start.

Team confirmed: Lucie, Ellie, Lily, Kiera, Rebecca, Courteny, Kenzie, Caitlin, Annaliese. Waiting for confirmation from Meg and Emma.

Help with setting up appreciated. We'll be down early to get most of it done. Nothing needs to be taken down after the game as the under 14s are on at 11 on the pitch.

Two of our girls trained with Chester Ladies on Thursday. There will be more opportunities for our girls to train with Chester over the next few weeks. As part of our partnership, there will be a visit on Saturday March 16, to Chester FC v Gloucester at the Exacta Deva Stadium (we're old fashioned and non commercial) where our u12s, u14s and u16s will visit, watch the game, and take part in a half time event on the pitch. Kick off will be 3, but the u16s may be invited in to the dressing room and to meet the players before the game. By March 9th, we need names of girls who want to go. Cost to the girls is free, but if parents want to come they are welcome, cost £5.

Home from home

Our first home game since the beginning of November saw a much better performance against a team who have already well beaten us twice this season. For much of the game, we were the better side and the Upton manager said afterwards that the scoreline didn't reflect the game. A little bit more sharpness and luck in front of goal and it would have been much closer in the score.

It was great to welcome Kenzie and Meg for the first home games, and to welcome Courteny for her club debut. All three played really well, with Kenzie getting player of the match again. Courteny is a strong player who will get on the scoresheet very very soon.

Emma was superb at the back and was so unlucky not to score with 'that run and shot' that we all thought had gone in, and Lily was again pulling the strings in centre midfield. Kiera played further up front and played well and deserved her late goal. Ellie did well in the second half after not feeling too bright early on, and Rebecca again was brilliant and was so unlucky not to score. Annaliese was excellent as a stand in for the partying Lucie and made some first class saves.

The watching Richard, Steph and Dave from Chester FC were impressed, saying that the shape was excellent, the scoreline was misleading, and with the way the girls play, the team should be able to move into 11 a side u18 football next season quite easily.

We will be visiting the Exacta Deva Stadium soon, with a tour of the ground and playing on the pitch at half time. We are waiting for Richard to confirm a date. It'll be funny doing our training in front of all those people.

Training this Wednesday and lets hope its warmer than last week. We are waiting for the Wallasey League to tell us who we will be playing next Saturday, when and where. As soon as we know, we'll let you know on here and on Twitter. We now have 16 followers. We did have 17, but 'Bolton Wanderers Fans' got bored after a week and dropped us. Cheeky monkeys. The cloth bag making company, who also followed us for some reason has gone too. Funny business this Twitter thing isn't it?

Upton game Saturday

Our first home game since November sees one of the best sides in the League, Upton, come to Waverton. We lost to Upton three weeks ago at their ground, so this is a chance to make amends. We have a team of nine including Courteny who will make her club debut. Meg and Kenzie are playing their first home games.

All the girls are to meet at 9:10 so we can warm up and prepare for the game.  Help from the parents with setting up is appreciated.

Training Weds, game Saturday

Training this Wednesday as usual. 7-8 at Old Hall.

Game this Saturday is home to Upton, ko at 9:30. All players to meet at 9:10.

Team confirmed so far: Kenzie, Annaliese, Lily, Emma, Courteny and Kiera.

Weekend off

A free weekend and not bad weather too by all accounts, so enjoy it.

Training will take place on Wednesday. Nobody has told me that they can't make it so I'm assuming that despite it being half term there will still be a viable number to justify the £25 cost.

You remember when we played Bolton Wanderers at the end of last season? Well I was talking to Terry their manager yesterday and he says that the team are unbeaten in their League this season and are likely to win it. Interestingly though three of that team have been offered fully paid scholarships to USA Universities and will be playing football in the USA College league from September in front of 7000 people each week. The University pays for the girls academic education and flys them across the States at weekends to play football.

We know they were good, but that is amazing. Hard work will get you a long way towards your goal.  As we move into 11 a side u18 football, doors will open up for those who are really dedicated.

Training off tonight.

Having looked at the Old Hall pitches we have called off tonight's training. Pitch is covered in snow and slippery, and therefore we've called it off as a precaution. Apologies. This has been a bad winter for football. No game this Sat.

Greenleas game info

With Kenzie, Lucie, Caitlin and Rebecca all away we are down to the magnificent six for tomorrows game at Greenleas. We'll just have to work extra hard and use some special tactics (ssh don't tell anyone, we'll explain in the morning) to get a result.

Everyone meet at St Georges School in Wallasey at 9:10. Lets be there on time so we can have a warm up. We won there convincingly in December and the ground has generally been a good one for us over the years.

Be careful of using the internet or sat navs, there are two sites for St Georges School and it resulted one year in one unnamed player arriving at half time. See you all there.

Take M53 to Junction 1. Head off left down slip road and at roundabout take first exit to Wallasey following signs A554 to New Brighton and Wallasey. Keep on this dual carriageway and ignore turn offs for Leasowe and for Wallasey. Keep on this road as it goes into a single carriageway and into the housing area of New Brighton. You will go past a big church on the right and then soon after turn right into Harrison Drive. Follow this for 200 yards and then turn left into Grove Road (there are some car showrooms at this junction). Keep on this road past the Nelson Pub on the right and just past a park on the right turn right into Claremount Road. St Georges School is 200 yards on the left. Park on this road or in Lyndhurst Avenue just before the school. If you go past the church on the right you've gone too far. The field is at the back of the school.

Forget it, just forget it alright.

We should stop going to Overchurch School. We never ever do well. Something in the Upton air, it must be. Last season we got stuffed and on Saturday we just didn't turn up. Take nothing away from Upton who are a very good organised side, but we can play much better than we did on Saturday and have done so many times this season. If we'd played half as well as we did against Wirral Hawks in our last proper League game, we'd have done much better. Anyway, put it down to experience. Oh and very well done to Kenzie, winning her first player of the match award at Waverton.

Training therefore becomes even more important this Wednesday. Thanks to the Duke of Edinburgh, we will only have 6 players available on Saturday against Greenleas, but we will still play. More on that later in the week.

Upton game on.

Yes, it will happen. A game on grass. Well don't get too excited, there may be more mud than grass.

The inspection has been done and we can play at Overchurch School. Meet at 9:10.

We have a full squad out for the first time this season!


This is one of the easiest grounds to find. To get to Overchurch School, take the M53 to J2. This is signed Hoylake and West Kirby.  Take the Moreton spur off the M53 and then take the first left off the spur signed 'Upton'. Go up to the junction above the spur road, turn left and Overchurch School is about a quarter of a mile on the left hand side. Go into the playground and park.

Training and a game!

Training this Wednesday at Old Hall. Game this Saturday away at Upton at Overchurch School. Meet 9:10. Ko is 9:30.

Upton are having a pitch inspection on Friday afternoon. We'll let you know the outcome.

Team confirmed so far : Lucie, Emma, Lily, Rebecca, Keira, Caitlin, Annaliese.

Snow joke

Well the forecast was right, the Friday snow eventually came and completely wrote off any chance of playing Saturday morning's match. We looked at the pitches Thursday night with the help of car headlights and torches but with the forecast updated on Friday lunchtime to confirm the snow, we had no option but to call it off. Wirral Hawks ground was closed by the Council and Upton County Officers  had closed all their astro pitches. No where to play. We even considered a training session in the warmth of Northgate, but that was not possible either.

Lets hope that this will be the end of the cold snap and that we can start in earnest on Wednesday with a good training session and then get into our February games. We start with a game at Upton next Saturday (2 Feb) ko 9:30. Then we are away at Greenleas on 9 Feb again 9:30 ko. We have no game on 16 Feb which is the start of half term, but then on 23 we have a home game against Upton. Lucie will be unavailable for the Greenleas away and Upton at home games, so Annaliese has agreed to step in as goal keeper. Its great having such reliable back up, as Lucie has been outstanding this season. We still can't forget those first class saves in the parents game a couple of weeks ago.

We have made a bid to the FA Football Foundation for £5000 to help set up two new girls teams at Waverton. We may or may not be successful but the idea was to help us deliver our vision of an u18 side and importantly an u10 development squad to bring new young girls into football. We are having talks with Chester FC about a potential u18 side which we need them to support if it is to work. The FA are keen for us to set one up and will allow girls of upper and lower sixth and Y11 to play next season. That means, should we and the players agree and want it, that all the girls playing in the current u16s could play together in the Cheshire u18 league next season. It would be 11 a side and games would be Sunday afternoons most likely. Long way to go yet as it needs a squad of at least 15 (!) and making sure we have pitch and other FA requirements. Also it needs to work within our AFC Waverton team structure for 2013/14.

Lots to look forward to then, starting with training on Wednesday on hopefully a smooth green astro pitch at Old Hall. See you there!

Training news Wed 23

We are waiting to assess the pitch at Old Hall before making a decision about whether we can hold training tonight. Mike is at parents eve so if it is on Steve will be in charge. We will text and tweet later.

We have a home game v Wirral Hawks on Saturday ko 11. The forecast is for warmer but wet weather by the weekend which may bring another problem, the pitch being too wet to play on. We will look by Friday. Wirral Hawks have offered to switch the game to Victoria Park if Wavertons pitch is not playable, and so our best guess is that the game is likely to be on. We will let you know. Please let Mike know ASAP about girls availability for the game, whether at home or away.

Greenleas game off

We've called the Greenleas game off, due to the bad weather. Even if it stops snowing, the forecast is for it to freeze, and even if it thaws the pitch will be too wet.

Enjoy the weekend and go easy on the snowballing.

A family affair

Excellent turn out from both the girls and the parents on Saturday for the fun game at Upton. It was great to see a few family battles going on. At one point, Kenzie had hold of her Dads' leg and Robin was determined to score against Lucie, but she was outstanding. Berry v Berry, Brooks v Brooks, Worden v Worden, Riste v Riste, all over the field there were personal challenges. Lily was playing against her mum, her dad and and her uncle!  Mike should have at least 4 free kicks due to deliberate fouls from Kiera, Caitlin and Ellie.  Great to see the girls whose parents couldn't make it turning out and giving everything too, especially Megan and Emma.

We might do it again later in the year on a nice warm day when we can have a picnic afterwards.

Training this Wednesday at Old Hall. Thanks to those who have paid Jan training subs. Game next Saturday at home to Greenleas. Mike is away, but Paul Harrison (Emmas Dad) will be in charge and make sure the pitch is set up, and look after the team. Help to set up the pitch and take it down afterwards will be appreciated.

Parents v Girls game

The parents v girls game will take place at 10am this Saturday, at Upton County Officers club.

Girls team: Lucie, Ellie, Kiera, Lily, Rebecca, Emma, Kenzie, Caitlin.
Parents team: Now that would be telling, suffice to say theres: a couple of dads, a couple of mums, a mum thinking about it, an uncle, possibly a sister, and possibly an old friend most of you know well but haven't seen in ages. (clue she can play a bit). Plus theres a few others having medical check ups.

Waverton girls please wear full kit. Parents wear what you like. No metal studs. Trainers fine.

More info on here on Friday.

Training this Wednesday, 9 Jan. 7-8 at Old Hall.

Subs for the month will be due, so please bring £10. The cost of the training this season has been £250 for which we collected £140 from the girls, leaving a gap of £110 which will be met by the Club.

The club has also paid out £75 for the referees fees for the u16s so far this season.

We need however to get the club subscriptions in. It's due to an oversight on our part that we've not asked you for these earlier. It will be £77 for the girls who have been here all season, a reduced rate for Meg and Kenzie. We will get these forms to you this week.

This Saturday, we have no league game and we are proposing to have a short girls v parents game this Saturday morning. Thats a short game not a game for short girls.  Who's up for it then? Come on Dads and Mums show your daughters how good and fit you used to be are.

Plastic Fantastic

AFC Waverton v Birkenhead

Good workout today in the friendly at home to Birkenhead. Though the score was 3-1 for the visitors the Waverton girls played well considering it was on astro and the first exercise since before Christmas. Great display by Lucie in goal and a fantastic first Waverton goal for Kenzie.

Training next Wednesday at Old Hall

Game on astroturf tomorrow

The Birkenhead game will now be a friendly and be played on astro at the County Officers Club. Meet 9:40. We're on Pitch 3 at the back.

Team: Lucie, Ellie, Emma, Kenzie, Annaliese, Caitlin, Rebecca, Lily and Kiera.

Meg is ill.

Please wear:

Waverton shirt, socks and shorts
Leggings/tights if you wish
Shin pads
Trainers or boots that don't have metal studs

See everyone there!